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Greece is rated as one of the most troublesome members of the European Union (EU) due to the financial crisis, corruption and political instability. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, they created a “miracle” full of surprises when the disease was under much better control than expected.
Staff in protective suits sprays disinfectant in a reception room on the outskirts of Dafni, east of Athens, Greece, on March 9. Photos: AP.
As the nCoV spread across Europe, many Greeks feared becoming Italy or the second Spanish. After all, the Greek health system has been severely weakened after a decade of financial crisis. Furthermore, Greece is one of the countries with the oldest population in the EU, second only to Italy, which means that the population is more susceptible to disease. But the number of deaths and cases of intensive care reported in Greece is still quite small compared to other European countries.
Now, the so-called “bad son” of the EU welcomes the government’s response to Covid-19 and hopes to reopen the economy.
“Greece has acted beyond all expectations,” said Kevin Featherstone, director of the Hellenic Observatory research center at the London School of Economics, UK.
Because Greece tests only a small part of the population, it is not sure how widespread the virus will be in this country. However, the number of deaths was low, 138 cases per 10.7 million people, a rate that surprised experts and gave a sigh of relief.
On April 28, more than a month after the government imposed a blockade, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced plans to relax restrictions to bring the country back to normal.
So far, only 70,000 people have been tested for nCoV in Greece, but experts agree that the government’s swift adoption of community isolation and strengthening the country’s weak health system has helped prevent an outbreak outbreak. On the other hand, people’s willingness to comply also limited Covid-19.
On February 27, less than 24 hours after Greece reported its first nCoV infection in Thessaloniki, the country’s second largest city, the government immediately canceled an annual street festival. On March 11, Greece closed the schools. Two days later, authorities ordered restrictions on travel and the closure of cafes, restaurants, libraries, museums and other places of interest.
Anyone returning from a foreign country must undergo mandatory isolation for two weeks, otherwise they will be fined USD 5,400. Everyone across the country is required to notify authorities every time they leave home.
Greece currently registers almost 2,600 nCoV infections. In comparison, Belgium reported over 47,000 cases and over 7,300 deaths, despite the two countries having the same population size.
The health worker disinfects the body pouch of patients infected with nCoV in an Athens hospital. Photos: Reuters
Starting in February, Greece tried to increase the number of intensive care beds (ICUs) by 70% and add 3,337 health workers to hospitals, said Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
“The reaction rate is very fast,” said Anastasia Kotanidou, associate professor of intensive care at the University of Athens, president of the Greek Intensive Care Association. Without strengthening, the health system will not be able to cope with the disease.
Across the country, many Greeks quickly accepted the new normal state, even canceling their lamb-roasting meetings on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. Just a few months ago, this seemed unthinkable.
A recent survey found that the two most important Greek faces are Sotiris Tsiodras, an infectious disease expert at the University of Athens, and Nicholas Hardalias, deputy minister for Civil Protection. Dr. Tsiodras and Vice Minister Hardalias took on the task of organizing daily press conferences on Covid-19.
According to Featherstone, the Greek government is “scientifically calculating” when Dr. Tsiodras directs the policy and gives Deputy Minister Hardalias the authority to monitor the nation’s response to the epidemic, helping everything to go smoothly. . “These are not typical Greek government actions in the face of challenges,” he said.
Pavlos Eleftheriadis, a retired theater director at the national theater in northern Greece, said he was surprised to witness the government’s reaction to the epidemic.
“I am proud that we have an effective state, there are politicians who listen to scientists,” he said.
Still, the Greek government has faced some criticism. Fewer than 1% of the population underwent nCoV tests, raising questions about the precision of the numbers. The test will only target people who have been hospitalized with symptoms and who have had contact with nCoV-infected patients and those who have returned from abroad.
There have been outbreaks in the Greek refugee camps, and despite calls for evacuation, some refugees are allowed outside the community.
At least 150 people at a hotel used as refugee accommodation tested positive for nCoV this month. Refugees are evaluated only after a hotel worker with her husband and a pregnant Somali woman receive a positive result.
Others expressed concern over reports of abuse of power by the police in implementing blockade measures, including the excessive use of force.
Fani Kountouri, an associate professor of political science and political communication at Panteion University in Athens, assessed that the current sense of satisfaction with the government could easily disappear, depending on how the country is run. Economic impacts of a pandemic.
Tourism, which represents 18% of Greek GDP, is expected to be the most affected. The Greek tourism industry is only recovering from the 2009 financial crisis.
On April 28, Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced that from May 4 bookstores, hairdressers and other stores will reopen. The Greeks also do not need to inform the authorities before leaving home.
The church will reopen, but will only organize personal ceremonies. The high school will open in late May, while the restaurant and hotel can start operating again from June 1.
Many Greeks are proud that their country is emerging as a rare success story in the EU amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Costas Thimioudis, a 50-year-old taxi driver in Thessaloniki, said he was not a blind follower of the government, but was satisfied with the way officials responded.
“The Greek government has countermeasures before most of the rest of Europe,” he said.
“Some Europeans don’t take us seriously,” said Costas Hatzopoulos, 54, an agricultural engineer in Thessaloniki. “We proved that they were completely wrong.”
Vu Hoang (The O NYTimes)
